mg.cyro-第22部分

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His　ship　did　not　dock　until　tonight。〃
　　〃He　should　have　e　here　as　soon　as　he　arrived；〃　Lence　suggested。
　　〃Hardly。　He　had　arrangements　to　make。　That　is　why　I　brought　Tabac　here。
　　Ah；　Tabac…〃
　　Turning　to　the　Apache；　Brilliard　began　a　jargon　of　Parisian　slang。　Tabac　grinned　and　replied　in　kind。　To　Lence；　their　rapid　conversation　was　unintelligible。　It　continued；　though；　with　laughs　and　gestures；　for　a　full　ten　minutes。
　　Then　Tabac　subsided。　Brilliard　went　back　to　his　sketch。　Lence　arose　and　paced　back　and　forth　across　the　studio。　He　was　puffing　nervously　at　a　third　cigarette　when　a　soft　knock　came　from　the　door。
　　〃Answer　it；〃　whispered　Brilliard。
　　Lence　opened　the　door。　A　dark…faced　man　in　tuxedo　attire　entered　the　studio。　Lence　noted　the　thin；　pointed　mustache　that　adorned　the　arrival's　upper　lip。　He　saw　a　twisted　smile　beneath　it。
　　〃Pardon。〃　The　newer　looked　at　Lence；　then　at　the　Apache；　finally　at　Brilliard。　〃I　have　e　to　find　Monsieur　Raoul　Brilliard；　of　Paris。　Perhaps〃　…
　　he　paused　in　his　polite　foreign　accent…〃I　have　not　found　the　right　place？〃
　　〃What　is　your　name？〃　questioned　Brilliard；　turning　from　his　sketching。　〃I　believe　that　Monsieur　Brilliard　expects　someone…〃
　　〃I　am　Jose　Larribez。〃
　　The　bearded　artist　smiled　and　advanced　with　outstretched　hand。　Larribez　stared　in　surprise　while　Lence　closed　the　door。　Brilliard　introduced　himself；　then　Lence。　Larribez　gave　a　wry　smile。
　　〃An　artist！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃You　deceived　me；　Brilliard。　I　might　have　known　Senor　Lence；　but　I　did　not　expect　to　meet　him　so　soon。　I　would　say　you　were　clever；　but　perhaps…〃
　　〃Perhaps　it　is　Cyro　who　is　the　clever　one；〃　chuckled　Brilliard。　〃But　let　us　e　directly　to　the　point。　What　about　the　men　you　have　brought？〃
　　〃They　are　at　the　Cafe　Internationale；〃　replied　Larribez。　〃Near　the　water　front。　A　man　called　Dombar…he　is　having　charge。〃
　　〃They　have　a　password？〃
　　〃Si。　It　is　Cajobabo。　The　name　of　a　town　in　Cuba。〃
　　〃Do　any　speak　French？〃
　　〃I　suppose　so。〃
　　Brilliard　gestured　toward　Tabac。
　　〃The　last　of　my　Apaches；〃　he　explained。　〃Suppose　I　have　him　join　them？〃
　　〃Buenos；〃　agreed　Larribez。　〃The　room　that　is　upstairs。　At　the　Cafe　Internationale。〃
　　Brilliard　explained　to　Tabac　in　French。　The　Apache　replied；　then　departed　at　Brilliard's　order。
　　〃He　is　the　last？〃　inquired　Larribez。　Brilliard　nodded。　He　began　an　explanation　of　what　had　occurred；　Lence　chimed　in　with　his　account。
　　At　times；　Larribez　looked　troubled。　But　his　dark　countenance　lighted　at　the　conclusion　of　the　narrative；　when　he　learned　that　the　police　had　not　learned　the　truth　of　the　affray　at　Debeq's。
　　
　　DISCUSSION　of　the　eliminated　Apaches　occupied　a　full　twenty　minutes。　Then　Brilliard　came　to　the　matter　of　future　plans。　He　spoke　of　the　mob　that　awaited　Lence's　call。　Then　he　referred　to　Larribez's　water…front　crew：
　　〃Link　Ruckert　and　his　gorillas　will　be　instructed　beforehand；〃　explained　Brilliard。　〃You；　Larribez；　will　take　direct　charge　of　your　own　henchmen。　We　shall　discuss　final　plans　here；　tomorrow　afternoon。
　　〃Lence　and　I　have　been　invited　to　the　Gaudrin　mansion。　We　shall　be　inside…I；　as　the　guest　of　Mademoiselle　Alicia；　Lence　as　a　friend　of　young　Luke　Gaudrin。　You　will　be　necessary　outside。　You　must　not　be　observed　between　now　and　then。〃
　　〃It　is　plain；〃　nodded　Larribez。　〃Tomorrow；　I　shall…〃
　　The　door　swung　open。　It　was　Tabac。　Closing　the　barrier；　the　Apache　broke　loose　with　a　flood　of　jargon　that　only　Brilliard　understood。　The　artist's　face　clouded。
　　〃There　has　been　a　brawl　at　the　Cafe　Internationale；〃　he　declared；　〃centering　in　the　upstairs　room。　Some　have　been　killed。　Others　have　gone　to　hospitals；　wounded　and　unconscious。　Your　men；　Larribez！〃
　　The　mustached　swindler　burst　loose　with　a　string　of　Spanish　expletives。
　　Amid　his　oaths　were　references　to　Dombar。　Tabac　heard　the　name　and　made　a　gesture　to　indicate　that　the　former　mutineer　was　dead。
　　〃Buenos！〃　exclaimed　Larribez。　〃It　is　good。　Very　good！　He　alone　could　have　said　that　I；　Jose　Larribez；　was　the　one　who　had　those　men。〃
　　〃But　we　need　your　henchmen！〃　cried　Brilliard。
　　〃You　shall　have　them；〃　returned　Larribez。　〃Bah！　Do　you　think　I　am　helpless？　Who　do　you　think　is　here　in　New　Orleans？〃
　　Brilliard　shook　his　head。
　　〃Juan　Quita；　of　the　Porra；〃　declared　Larribez。　〃And　Sancho　Trupion；　another　Porrista。　Since　the　revolution；　los　porristas…ah；　they　are　everywhere。　It　is　easy　that　I　should　find　one；　here　in　this　Latin　Quarter。〃
　　〃You　need　more　than　one…〃
　　〃One　or　two。　They　have　the　ways　to　find　the　men　that　I　have　had。　Along　the　front　here；　by　the　water。　They　will　bring　those　that　I　need。　e；　senores。　Let　us　find　a　place　to　eat。　Bah！　That　food　on　the　ship；　el　Tarrano！〃
　　Brilliard　dismissed　Tabac。　While　he　doffed　his　smock；　he　heard　Larribez　explain　to　Lence　that　he　would　call　on　Quita　and　Trupion　after　dining。
　　Brilliard　joined　the　pair；　the　trio　descended　from　the　studio。
　　The　courtyard　lay　quiet　after　their　departure。　Not　a　whisper　stirred　its　stillness。　There　was　no　sign　of　the　mysterious　presence　that　had　visited　here　before。
　　Since　the　arrival　of　Jose　Larribez；　The　Shadow　had　found　other　tasks　than　those　of　keeping　shrouded　vigil　upon　the　lieutenants　of　Cyro。　His　role　of　stealth　had　ended　with　his　departure　from　the　suite　in　the　Hotel　Bontezan。
　　
　　　CHAPTER　XIX　
　　　MEN　MAKE　MOVES　
　　〃CORAL　specimens；　Marr。〃
　　〃Worth　their　weight　in　gold；　Danforth。〃
　　Danforth　Gaudrin　chuckled　at　Marr's　reply。　The　two　were　in　Gaudrin's　study。　On　the　floor　in　the　center　of　the　room　were　nine　square　boxes　that　had　been　brought　here　from　the　Nautilus。
　　It　was　late　the　next　afternoon。　Already　lights　glowed　in　this　study　while　the　two　men　surveyed　the　heavy…crated　treasure。　Two　others　were　with　them。　One　was　a　pinch…faced；　white…haired　old　man：　Professor　Pearson　Babcock。　The　other　was　a　squatty；　rock…faced　fellow　in　blue　uniform：　Captain　Peters　Emory。
　　〃You　mentioned　weight；　Marr；〃　observed　Gaudrin。　〃Judging　from　what　Captain　Emory　has　told　us；　I　should　place　the　value　of　the　treasure　well　in　excess　of　one　million。〃
　　〃But　less　than　two　million？〃
　　〃Yes。　As　owner　of　the　Nautilus；　I　shall　claim　one　half。　That　is　the　agreement。　The　other　portion　will　be　divided　among　Captain　Emory　and　the　crew。〃
　　〃They　want　me　to　take　one　third　of　our　share；〃　put　in　Emory；　gruffly。　〃I　was　willing　to　do　with　a　quarter　of　it。　They　wouldn't　hear　it。　Well；　they'll
　　all　be　rich；　mighty　rich　to　their　way　of　life。　They　deserve　it；　faithful　fellows；　after　serving　with　me　for　so　many　years。〃
　　〃They　have　all　left　the　Nautilus？〃　inquired　Marr。
　　〃Yes；〃　replied　Emory。　〃They　are　through　with　the　sea。　So　am　I。　As　the　new　owner；　Mr。　Marr；　you　will　have　to　obtain　a　new　crew。　That　should　not　be　difficult　here　in　New　Orleans。〃
　　〃No　one　is　aboard　the　yacht？〃　asked　Gaudrin。
　　〃No　one；〃　replied　Emory。　〃Nothing　of　value　remains　on　board。　We　brought　Professor　Babcock's　coral　in　with　these　boxes。　The　boxes　of　coral　are　down　in　the　cellar。〃
　　〃But　is　it　wise？〃　asked　Marr。　〃Having　the　crew　ashore　tonight？〃
　　〃Why　not？〃　demanded　Emory；　gruffly。　〃Those　chaps　are　not　roustabouts。
　　Picked　men；　all　of　them。　They　have　homes　here　in　New　Orleans。　Professor　Babcock　can　testify　to　their　faithfulness。〃
　　〃I　can　indeed；〃　put　in　the　professor；　in　a　crackly　voice。　He　looked　like　an　owl；　blinking　through　his　big　spectacles。　〃There　was　no　quibbling　about　the　raising　of　this　treasure。　They　did　not　even　want　a　counting　of　the　gold。　It　was　poured　into　these　boxes；　so　that　it　could　be　brought　intact　to　Mr。　Gaudrin。〃
　　〃They　trust　you；　Mr。　Gaudrin；〃　added　Emory；　〃just　as　they　trust　me。　When　the　diver　put　the　old　treasure　boxes　in　the　net；　the　crew　heaved　them　aboard　like　they　were　weighing　an　anchor。〃
　　〃And　I；　as　new　owner；　am　to　lose　such　a　crew！〃　exclaimed　Dunwood　Marr。
　　〃You'll　do　better　with　a　new　crew；〃　assured　Emory。　〃My　men　are　old　salts　…
　　past　their　prime。　You　will　do　better　with　younger　blood。〃
　　〃Unless　I　search　for　sunken　treasure。〃
　　〃In　that　case；　call　on　me。〃
　　
　　DANFORTH　GAUDRIN；　reaching　in　his　desk；　brought　out　papers　and　passed　them　to　Dunwood　Marr。　Seriously；　Gaudrin　added　a　statement。
　　〃You　may　expect　my　check　for　twenty　thousand　dollars；〃　he　declared。　〃The　Nautilus　is　yours；　Marr；　as　my　gift…〃
　　〃Not　at　all；〃　broke　in　Marr。　〃The　size　of　the　treasure；　by　your　estimate；　will　not　warrant　it。〃
　　〃I　insist…〃
　　〃Wait　a　moment。〃　Marr　saw　that　Gaudrin　was　determined。　〃Let　us　make　a　new　arrangement；　Danforth。　To　begin　with；　only　part　of　the　treasure　belongs　to　you。〃
　　〃One　half　is　mine。〃
　　〃And　that　should　amount　to　something　over　half　a　million？〃
　　〃So　I　estimate。　We　shall　know　tonight。〃
　　〃Suppose　then；〃　suggested　Marr；　〃that　you　give　me　one　per　cent　of　your　share。　That　amount　can　be　determined　easily　when　we　weigh　the　treasure…〃
　　〃But　it　will　be　scarcely　more　than　five　thousand　dollars！〃
　　〃Perhaps。　But　don't　forget　our　bargain。　By　rights；　I　am　entitled　to　nothing。　One　per　cent；　Gaudrin；　but　let　me　take　my　pick　of　rare；　old　Spanish　coins。〃
　　〃I　promised　you　twenty　thousand　dollars…〃
　　〃And　I　refuse　it。　I　want　none　of　your　treasure；　Danforth。　I　am　making　my　new　acceptance　only　to　please　you。　One　per　cent　in　coin。　That　is　all　that　I　shall　be　willing　to　accept。〃
　　〃Very　well；　Marr。〃
　　Danforth　Gaudrin　was　reluctant　in　his　tone。　Marr　smiled　and　shook　his　head。
　　〃You　are　overgenerous；　Danforth；〃　he　remarked。
　　〃That's　what　I　have　said；　Mr。　Marr；〃　put　in　Captain　Emory。　〃Even　as　sole　owner　of　the　Nautilus；　he　was　willing　to　do　with　only　a　third　of　the　treasure　when　we　found　it；　I　talked　him　out　of　that；　Mr。　Marr。〃
　　〃As　for　me；〃　remarked　Professor　Babcock；　〃I　have　been　forced　to　accept　a　promised　refund　of　the　money　which　I　paid　to　charter　the　yacht　for　my　coral　cruise。〃
　　Danforth　Gaudrin　smiled　as　he　arose　from　his　desk。　He　walked　about　the　room　and　tried　the　door　that　led　to　the　passage　toward　the　front　parlor。　It　was　locked。　He　went　to　another　door　at　the　far　side　of　the　room。
　　That　door；　strangely；　had　been　half　an　inch　ajar。　It　closed　mysteriously　as　Danforth　Gaudrin　approached。　The　elderly　man　did　not　observe